Ask the Author: Prashant Yadav
Answered Questions (7)
Prashant Yadav
The emotional arc of The Jeera Packer originated from my entrepreneurial depression. The feeling of being stuck in a routine, doing worthless stuff, frustration at things moving slowly, fear of being left behind, trapped energy, constrained potential - all of this finds voice in The Jeera Packer.
Plus, a lot was happening in politics too, which was negative but funny and pointless in its own way - so all of that finds a place in the book.
And then the characters - some pretty colorful - to carry forward the plot. In a way, characters drove the plot - almost like these people, in this setting interacting. Now, what will happen?
Plus, a lot was happening in politics too, which was negative but funny and pointless in its own way - so all of that finds a place in the book.
And then the characters - some pretty colorful - to carry forward the plot. In a way, characters drove the plot - almost like these people, in this setting interacting. Now, what will happen?
Prashant Yadav
To me, writing comes from feeling.
It is very personal and will be different for different writers. For me, writing is a very intense process and strong feelings drive the words automatically.
That's why to me as a writer, going out, experiencing the world and meeting people and doing business with them is very important. Because those new experiences drive feelings which drive writing.
The mechanics of it gets done through schedule - so inspiration doesn't descend. You sit everyday and it sits with you.
It is very personal and will be different for different writers. For me, writing is a very intense process and strong feelings drive the words automatically.
That's why to me as a writer, going out, experiencing the world and meeting people and doing business with them is very important. Because those new experiences drive feelings which drive writing.
The mechanics of it gets done through schedule - so inspiration doesn't descend. You sit everyday and it sits with you.
Prashant Yadav
Writing my second. Expect the first draft to be over by March 2017 end.
It is about something I feel very strongly about - the whole gender dynamics. Essentially that human female is the most defenceless female amongst all animals throughout organic evolution - this despite the ideas of justice and fairness which are exclusively human - in the animal world, might is right, strong always eats up the weak. While in human societies, we developed the ideas and mechanisms of justice to prevent precisely that - we take great pains to ensure the weak too get the same dignity and right to life as the strong.
But, despite all this, female Homo sapiens is more abused than female rabbits, and donkeys and tigers and birds and basically any other species. So, is all of that insincere? Is it that all of it is designed to enslave an entire gender - through subtle signals, psychological programming to brutal violence? The question am trying to explore is - is it that the war between genders is over and the women have been defeated and taken as prisoners of war.
It is about something I feel very strongly about - the whole gender dynamics. Essentially that human female is the most defenceless female amongst all animals throughout organic evolution - this despite the ideas of justice and fairness which are exclusively human - in the animal world, might is right, strong always eats up the weak. While in human societies, we developed the ideas and mechanisms of justice to prevent precisely that - we take great pains to ensure the weak too get the same dignity and right to life as the strong.
But, despite all this, female Homo sapiens is more abused than female rabbits, and donkeys and tigers and birds and basically any other species. So, is all of that insincere? Is it that all of it is designed to enslave an entire gender - through subtle signals, psychological programming to brutal violence? The question am trying to explore is - is it that the war between genders is over and the women have been defeated and taken as prisoners of war.
Prashant Yadav
1. Write, write and write some more.
2. Write to please yourself - don't try to fit into any genre - focus on the story and how best to say it.
3. Read, read and read some more. That will help build your inner ear when you read something and know it is off or it works.
4. Learn the craft and build your own style. Write, then read and also think about what you've written. Build an internal compass to identify your own good writing from bad.
5. Stick to a schedule. It works and completes books.
6. Don't copy an existing superstar. Even commercially, you will make it only if you can build your own audience. Existing superstars have their own audience who will anyday read the original than a clone. So no point trying to be the next Chetan Bhagat or Ravinder Singh.
7. Write for the love of it. Dont think of publishing process till you have a book.
2. Write to please yourself - don't try to fit into any genre - focus on the story and how best to say it.
3. Read, read and read some more. That will help build your inner ear when you read something and know it is off or it works.
4. Learn the craft and build your own style. Write, then read and also think about what you've written. Build an internal compass to identify your own good writing from bad.
5. Stick to a schedule. It works and completes books.
6. Don't copy an existing superstar. Even commercially, you will make it only if you can build your own audience. Existing superstars have their own audience who will anyday read the original than a clone. So no point trying to be the next Chetan Bhagat or Ravinder Singh.
7. Write for the love of it. Dont think of publishing process till you have a book.
Prashant Yadav
Writing, and any art, fundamentally is expression.
So, a writer gets to express - things which others cannot or would not. This requires the writer to observe more, think more and also develop articulation so that he can express shades and nuances which would be otherwise lost.
The best thing, to me, about writing is that you get to think the unthinkable and say the unsayable.
So, a writer gets to express - things which others cannot or would not. This requires the writer to observe more, think more and also develop articulation so that he can express shades and nuances which would be otherwise lost.
The best thing, to me, about writing is that you get to think the unthinkable and say the unsayable.
Prashant Yadav
Writing, and any art, fundamentally is expression.
So, a writer gets to express - things which others cannot or would not. This requires the writer to observe more, think more and also develop articulation so that he can express shades and nuances which would be otherwise lost.
The best thing, to me, about writing is that you get to think the unthinkable and say the unsayable.
So, a writer gets to express - things which others cannot or would not. This requires the writer to observe more, think more and also develop articulation so that he can express shades and nuances which would be otherwise lost.
The best thing, to me, about writing is that you get to think the unthinkable and say the unsayable.
Prashant Yadav
Writing, and any art, fundamentally is expression.
So, a writer gets to express - things which others cannot or would not. This requires the writer to observe more, think more and also develop articulation so that he can express shades and nuances which would be otherwise lost.
The best thing, to me, about writing is that you get to think the unthinkable and say the unsayable.
So, a writer gets to express - things which others cannot or would not. This requires the writer to observe more, think more and also develop articulation so that he can express shades and nuances which would be otherwise lost.
The best thing, to me, about writing is that you get to think the unthinkable and say the unsayable.
Prashant Yadav
By writing through it.
Anyone seriously desiring to be a writer has to write. Everyday. It's as simple.
It may work differently for others but for me, what works best is a fixed time pre-dawn. Everyday. A fixed target of words. Same seat. All noise cut out. Like they say, the muse doesn't visit on a fine day when stars align the best - it comes when you sit everyday and summon it through hard work.
Anyone seriously desiring to be a writer has to write. Everyday. It's as simple.
It may work differently for others but for me, what works best is a fixed time pre-dawn. Everyday. A fixed target of words. Same seat. All noise cut out. Like they say, the muse doesn't visit on a fine day when stars align the best - it comes when you sit everyday and summon it through hard work.
Prashant Yadav
Ok, must admit - haven't read a lot of fiction. More of a non-fiction reader and a movies guy.
For books, and with due disclaimer - I love Jeera Packer and Jaya's couple - electric chemistry - they dress up for love, do it in the car, on the highway, while driving. They grow old together, she the pillar of strength and he dealing with his own demons. And then, her strength to be nonchalant and let him free to explore his destiny though she knows she could lose her man forever in that quest. Her strength makes for a great foil against his internal struggles and strife.
Another fictional couple - and you didn't specify it to be only books - would be Mohsina and Faizal Khan from Gangs of Wasseypur 2. Again electric chemistry, that palpable spark and love for each other when down is in a different zone. Would rate them above Sardar Khan and Naghma due to their playfulness, chemistry and visible hunger for each other.
Loved Rani Mukherjee and Prithviraj's characters in Aiyya - she pretty assertive about her desires and he, the strong, silent, responsible man.
From mythology - Radha and Krishna - again, no labels, not defined in traditional, socially accepted terms but surreal. What you can feel, and it feels awesome but cannot name or label or describe. Guess, that's what magic is - undefinable, unnamable but feels like being in the skies or floating over the moon. All surreal and transcendental.
For books, and with due disclaimer - I love Jeera Packer and Jaya's couple - electric chemistry - they dress up for love, do it in the car, on the highway, while driving. They grow old together, she the pillar of strength and he dealing with his own demons. And then, her strength to be nonchalant and let him free to explore his destiny though she knows she could lose her man forever in that quest. Her strength makes for a great foil against his internal struggles and strife.
Another fictional couple - and you didn't specify it to be only books - would be Mohsina and Faizal Khan from Gangs of Wasseypur 2. Again electric chemistry, that palpable spark and love for each other when down is in a different zone. Would rate them above Sardar Khan and Naghma due to their playfulness, chemistry and visible hunger for each other.
Loved Rani Mukherjee and Prithviraj's characters in Aiyya - she pretty assertive about her desires and he, the strong, silent, responsible man.
From mythology - Radha and Krishna - again, no labels, not defined in traditional, socially accepted terms but surreal. What you can feel, and it feels awesome but cannot name or label or describe. Guess, that's what magic is - undefinable, unnamable but feels like being in the skies or floating over the moon. All surreal and transcendental.
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